Control valve



J. H. LESLIE, 2D 2,446,051

CONTROL VALVE July Y27, 1948.

,Filed Dec. 3, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 27, 1948. J. H.`LEsL|E, 2D 2,446,051

CONTROL VALVE Filed Dec. s, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Parenad Julyzz, 194s coN'rnoL VALVE John' Il. Leslie, II, Winnetka, Ill., assigner to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application December 3, 1943, Serial No. 512,791

vMy invention relates to control valves and more particularly to control valves especially adapted for supplying the fuel needs of internal combustion heaters'of the kind commonly used on airplanes and other vehicles.

c An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved control valve which accurately com trols the fuel supply in, accordance with the needs of. an internal combustion heater.

Another object of my invention is to `provide a new and improved control valve which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and

capable of affording long and trouble-free serv ice. A l

A'nother Vobject of my invention is to provide a new and improved control valve which may be connected to an internal combustion heater in any one of several ways whereby the control valve adapts itself moreY readily to various types of heater installations. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a YVnew and improvedcontrol valve which is4 equally adapted for use with an internal combustion heaterhavinga nozzle for injecting the liquid fuel directly into the combustion chamber of the heater'or with a heater. wherein the fuel is mixed with combustion `air prior to induction -into the combustion. chamber.

Another object of my invention is to'V provide a new and improved control valve which may be readily adjusted to afford any desired operating characteristics.

Y Y Another object of my invention is to provide'a. new and improved control valve which is capable' of application to a wide variety of uses.

valve member is Vreciprocably mounted in the nipple 26 and the largest portion of this valve .member is preferably rectangular, as shown, to

permit flow of fuel therepast.V

VThe valve member 30 is moved upwardly by the difference in fuel pressure between the inlet 26 Aand outlet 22 and is urged towards closed posiy tion by the force exerted thereon' by a pressure plate 32. The pressure plate 32 has a rivet-like extension 34 whose upper end is clamped over a disc 36. A1` tapered cup 33 and a second disc 4I) are confined between the head of the pressure I plate 32 and the disc 36 and the central portion vof a flexible diaphragm 42 is clamped between the cup 38 and disc 4Il.4 The periphery of this diaphragm is clamped between base casting In and intermediate casting I2. The diaphragm may be of metal or of-fabric coated or impregnated with synthetic rubber or other suitable material.

A second flexible diaphragm 44 has its peripheryclamped between intermediate castings I2 and I4 and cooperates lwith these castings to form a variable lower chamber 46 and a variable upper chamber 48 onopposite sidesof the diaphragm 64. A pipe 5.6 connects the lower chamber-46 with the Ventilating air inlet of Van internal combus-' tionh'eater and a pipe 52 connects the upper Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view 2 ls a side elevation of the vcontrol valve'of Fig. l; and Fig.. 3 is a` bottom view taken on the line 3-3 "of Fig. 2.

That embodiment 'of my invention which Ihave outlet 22 connected through a valve chamberr24.'

' Ai nipple 261s threaded into the casting I0 and n provides a valve seat 28 adapted to be engaged by the conicallower end of a valve member 30. This Y p of a preferred. form of control valve embodying my invention a and is taken on` the linel Ie-I of Fig. 3;

chamber. with the Ventilating air outlet so that the differential pressure across the diaphragm 44 reflects the Ventilating air drop across the heater.

The central portion of the diaphragm 44 is reinforced by discs 54 and 56 located on opposite sides thereof; These discs are attached to a hub 56 having Va depending screw 6U carrying a foot 62 provided with a cylindrical-lower end which presses against the base of the cup 38 and surrounds the disc 36` toI maintain proper alignment of this' disc withthehub 58.

The hub 58 has a threaded central bore therein which vrotatably. receives thethreaded lower end of. a pin 64 carrying an adjusting plate 66 whose outer edge .is notched sov that the p1ate -and pin can b e rotated by engaging the notchededge of the plate by a'screw driver or other suitable tool, to thereby screw the pin,64 into or out of the hub 58. The casting `I4 is provided with a hole 68 "through which this adjusting tool may be' inserted. ThisV hole is normally closed by .a plug 10.

Ther upper end ofthe pin 64 is rounded, as

lclearly shown in Fig. .1, -and fits into a recess provided in the base|` of a sheet metal cup 'I2 whose upper end engages dished plate `I4 `forming a reinforcement for the central portion of a third diaphragm 16.- A'second reinforcement plate 'I3 is located on the opposite side of .this diaphragm,

3 V and these plates are secured to the diaphragm by a rivet 80 having an enlarged head forming a guide for a light spring 82. The rivet 80 also secures vin place a guide 84 located in the upper endof the cup`12 and maintaining this cup in axial alignment with the rivet 80.

The upper'end of the spring 82 rests against a washer 88 weldedv or brazed to a screw 88 threaded linto a rotatable vplug 90 extending through an opening 92 in the upper casting IB. The upper end of the plug 90 is provided with a kerf 94 adapted to receive a screw driver whereby the plug may be rotated to move the screw 88 up or down and thereby decrease or increase tension on f the spring 82. The washer 86 and screw 88' are held against rotation with the plug 90 by the fricconductsfuel to the upper chamber |02 so that the control valveis balanced with respect to the fuel .pressure in the valve chamber `24, provided the upper diaphragm 16 and lower diaphragm 42 have the same effective area and operating characteristics.v Preferably, however, the upper small diaphragm 'I6 has different operating characteristics from the lower diaphragm 42, so that the operating characteristics of the control valve can be varied by adjusting the plate 66 to vary .the distance between the central portions of the large diaphragm 44 and upper diaphragm 16.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the upper diaphragm 16 has a rolled edge which reduces the effective area of this diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the position shown or at least reduces the response of the diaphragm to downward pressure thereon. To increase the response of this diaphragm to downward pressure, it is only necessary to rotate the adjusting plate 86 in a direction to move the central .portion of diaphragm I6 upwardly relative tothe central portion of the main diaphragm. `This changes the relationship between the forces due to fuel pressure and the forces due to differential air pressure across the large diaphragm 44 and thereby varies the fuel delivery for any given pressure differential across this large diaphragm since in the raised position of the diaphragm the inherent strength of the diaphragm itself is less involved. A proper setting of the adjusting plate 66 will, therefore, give any desired operating y characteristics within the operating range of the control valve.

'I'he valve chamber 24 is connected by a pipe |06 to a fuel pump or any suitable source of Vfuel under pressure. A pipe |08 connects this valve chamber with the spray nozzle of the internal combustion-heater. While this control valve is especially adapted for supplying fuel to the spray nozzle of an internal combustion heater, the pipe |08 may lead to a fuel induction .passage wherein the fuel and air are formed into a combustible mixture .before admission to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion heater, or any other burner. The device to which the pipe |08 is connected should in each ing orifice.

From the foregoing description of my novel control valve, it will be apparent that the spring case include a meter- 82 exerts a downward pressure which urges the floating valve member 30 towards closed position. This spring is relatively light, and its soie function is'to hold the valve member 30 in closed position when the heater is not operating and f thus to prevent flow of fuel through the pipe |08 to the spray nozzle or other point of utilization.

'When the pipe 50 is connected to the Ventilating depending upon the extent to which this valve member has moved away from its valve seat 28. Such movement of the valve member 30 is accurately controlled by the varying pressure differentials across the diaphragm 44. These lpressure differentials, in turn, reflect the varying flow of Ventilating air through the heater and, therefore, the proper heat output. In this manner the fuel ow to the heater nozzle is adjusted at all times to the heat requirements of the installation and provides adequate but efdcient heater operation.

While I have referred to the pipes 50 and 52 as being connected across the Ventilating air side of the internal combustion heater, thisarrangement is not essential and may not be the most desirable arrangement in some installations.v In certain installations it may be preferable to connect the pipes 50 and 52 across the combustion air side of the heater. In most instances, however, it is preferable to connect the pipes 50 and 52 across the Ventilating air side so that the fuel supply to the heater will be cut off if any stoppage occurs in the flow of Ventilating air across the heater.

As will be appreciated byV a reference to Fig. l, by a downward adjustment of the central portion of the diaphragm 16 forming a portionv of the wall of the fuel chamber |02 so as to bring the strength of the diaphragm more into play in opposition to further downward movement of its central portion. the ratio between the downward pressure on such diaphragm 16 and the upward pressure on the substantially smaller diaphragm 42 forming a portion of the wall of the fuel chamber 24 could be varied,.or if desired such diaphragms 42 and 'I6 might be brought into balanced condition with respect to each other.

While I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular details shown and described, but may assume numerous other forms and that my `invention includes all modifications. variations and equivalents coming within the following claims.

1. A control valve comprising an upper casting, `a lower casting, a pair of intermediate castings,

a lower diaphragm between said lower casting in said lower casting beneath said lowerl di- I aphragm, means rigidly connecting said diing and one ofrsaid intermediate castings, an upper diaphragm between the other of said intermediate castings andl said upper casting, a third diaphragm between said intermediate castings, a valve for regulating fuel flowV under pressure to a chamber provided in said lower casting beneath said lower diaphragm, meansfrigidlyy con- A necting said diaphragms and adapted to urge part, a lower body part, a pair of intermediate body parts, a lower diaphragm between said lower part and one of said intermediateparts. an upper diaphragm between the other of said intermediate parts and said upperp'art, a third diaphragm between said intermediate parts. a

valve for regulating fuel supply to a chamber proe vided in saidlower casting beneath said lower diaphragm, means rigidly connecting said diaphragms and adapted to urge said valve toward closed position, a'spring urging said last named meansand said diaphragms toward valve Iclosing position, conduit means connecting the 'chamber in the'lower casting with a chamber formed in the upper casting above said upper diaphragm.

means for adjusting the relationship between.,

said diaphragms, said upper diaphragm havingv a diierent eiiective area than said lower diaphragm, and means for creating a diierential pressure across said third diaphragm,

3. Acontrol valve comprising an upper body part, a lower body part, a pair of intermediate -body parts, a lower-diaphragm between Vsaid lower partand one of said intermediate parts, an upper diaphragm betweenY the other of said intermediate parts and said upper part. a third diaphragm between said intermediate parts, .a valve for metering fuel supplied to a chamber provided in said lowerV par-t beneath said lower diaphragm, means rigidly connecting said diaphragms and adapted to urge said valve to ward closed position, a spring urging said last named means and said diaphragms toward valve closing position, conduit means connecting the said valve toward closed position in oppositionV to the direction of Vfuel ilow, said last named means and said diaphragms ybeing biased towardV valve closing position, constantly open conduit means connecting the chamber in the lower castt ing with a chamberiormed in the upper casting above said upper diaphragm, and means: for creating a diierential pressure across the inter- ;a lower part, a pair'. oi' intermediate parts, a f

mediate diaphragm.

6. A control valve comprising an upper part,

lower diaphragm between saidvlower part and one of: said intermediate parts, an upper' diaphragm between the other of said intermediate 'parts and said upper part, a third diaphragm fbetween s aidintermediate parts, a valve for admitting fuel to a chamber provided in said lower part beneath said lower diaphragm, means connecting said diaphragms and adapted to urge said valve.toward closed position, a spring urging said last named means and said diaphragms toward valve closing position, conduit means con` necting the chamber in the lower part with a ,Y chamber formed in the upper part above said chamber in the lower part with a chamber formed f in the upper part above said upper diaphragm, said upper diaphragm having a variably different effective area than said lower diaphragm, and means for creating a differential pressure across the intermediate diaphragm.

4. Acontrol valve comprising an upper casting, a lower casting, a pair of intermediate cast# ings, a lower diaphragm between said lower casting and one of said intermediate castings, an upper diaphragm between the other of said intermediate castings and said upper casting, a third diaphragm between said intermediate castings, a valve for regulating fuel delivery to a chamber provided in said lower casting beneath said lower diaphragm, means rigidly connecting said diaphragms and adapted to urge said valve toward closed position, a spring urging said last named means and said'diaphragms toward valve closing position, condui-t means conupper diaphragm, means for adjusting the rela-` tionship between said diaphragms, and means for creating a differential pressure acrossthe intermediatev diaphragm. i 7. Acontrol valve comprising an i upper body part, a lower body part. a pair of intermediate body parts, a lower diaphragm, an upper diaphragm, a third diaphragm between said other diaphragms, a valve, gfor regulating fuel supply,

to a chamber provided beneath said lower dia,- phragm. means rigidly connecting said diaphragms and adapted torurge said valve toward closed position, 4conduit means connecting said chamber with a chamber formed above said upper I body. a floating valve for metering fuel supplied to a chamber vprovided in said body beneath said lower diaphragm, means rigidly connecting said diaphragms and adapted to urge said valve toward closed position, a spring urging said last named means and said diaphragms toward valve closing position, means for adjusting said spring, conduit means Vconnecting the chamber with a second chamber formed in the body above said.

upper diaphragm. said upper diaphragm having a variably different effective area than said lower V diaphragh, means for varying the effective-area Y of said upper diaphragm, and means for creating a differential pressure diaphragm.

9. A control valve comprising an upper casting, alower casting, a pair of `intermediate castings, a lower diaphragm between said lower casting and one of said intermediate castings. an upper diai I phragm Vbetween the other ofl said intermediate castings and said upper casting. a third diaacross the intermediate" REFERENCES CITED The following references are of 4record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num-ber Name Date 1,237,922 Lucas Aug. 21, 1917 1,461,086 Fesler July 10, 1923 2,146,092 Raymond Feb. 7, 1939 2,179,267 Miller Nov. 7, 1939 2,207,840 Tornquist July 16, 1940 2,245,691 Kuhn June 17, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Publication-Non-metallic diaphragms for instruments, by H. N. Eaton and C. T. Buchingham, appearing on pages 446-450 of the Tenth An- 5 nual Report (Number 206), National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, for 1924, published 1,925 by the Government Printing Oice, Washington, D. C. (Copy in Division 30.) 

